Sarah Bernhardt as the Duke of Reichstadt

Photograph by Aimé Dupont captures the legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt in costume as the Duke of Reichstadt, the young son of Napoleon Bonaparte. Bernhardt performed this role in Edmond Rostand's 1900 play *L'Aiglon* (*The Eagle*), a theatrical triumph that became one of her most celebrated performances. The image shows her in period military dress—a cream-colored jacket with ornamental buttons, black sash, and tall black boots—holding a riding crop. Rostand's drama centered on the duke's thwarted political ambitions and became a metaphor for French nationalism. Bernhardt's interpretation of the role demonstrated her range across romantic, tragic, and gender-variant theatrical parts.